"The State of Israel ... will ensure complete equality of social and political
rights of all its inhabitants irrespective of religion ... it will guarantee freedom
of religion and conscience." - May 1948)

Even as we celebrate with our brothers and sisters in North America, we are disheartened that only some of the Jewish organizations at the forefront of this battle for equality and defense of marriage have been active or even supportive when it comes to advocating for marriage freedom in Israel.

The cataclysmic consequences of the irresponsible policies pursued by most Israeli governments when it comes to the dictates of their religious coalition partners have been reinforced by a major study of Israel’s economy through 2059, published recently by Assaf Geva, a senior Finance Ministry economist.

According to a March 24 poll conducted by Rafi Smith Polling Institute for Hiddush – Freedom of Religion in Israel, 62% of Israelis support a government without the ultra-Orthodox parties; 87% prefer that control of the Knesset Finance Committee be given to Kulanu, rather than United Torah Judaism (UTJ).

According to a December 3 poll, 62% of Israeli voters do not want the ultra-Orthodox parties in the next government, and 74% do not want to increase public funding for yeshivas. But most importantly: how will the undecided voters sway the upcoming March 17 elections?

Jewish organizations, as expected, come to the defense of the Jewish community of Huxley, as Christian leaders attempt to ban their prayer event. But what would Jewish organizations do in the reverse situation?

Israel's Channel 10 News ran a four-part series about the issue of marriage in Israel and the Chief Rabbinate's monopoly over this basic right. The timing and content serve as a major boost for efforts for freedom of marriage.